Hoisting hook



May 1, 192s. 1,667,957

E. E. STEVENSCN -HOISTING HOOK Filed Oct, e. 1926 3 Sheets-$heetl .ff/@nay May l, 1928.

may 1, 1928. 1,667,957

E. E. STEVENSON HOISTING HOOK Filed Oct. 6. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Lil) Patented May l, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD E. STEVENSON, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO D & B PUMP AND SUPPLY GOMIANY, 0F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALI- FORNIA.

HOISTING HOOK.

Application med october 6,1926 serial 110.139,785.

This invention has to do gener-alll with hoisting hooks and is more particular y concerned with safety hooks, that is, hooks having means for closing their throats after they have been applied to work. The invention is further characterized as being a safety hook of the automatically locking type, whereby the draft or imposition of load on the hook operates to project the throat-closing means into operative position and to hold it in that position as long as the load is applied. l

IVhile my invention may be embodied in a hook employed for any hoisting purpose, it is especially well adapted to embodiment in hooks utilized in handling pipe or sucker rod strings during oil well operations, and I will therefore describe my invention as applied to a hook intended for this particular use, though this is in no way to be considered as limitative. n

During the installation or pulling of sucker rods, especially where the well is of any considerable depth, repeated applications and disengagement of the hook to the pipe or rod lengths is necessary, and it is essential that the application and disengagement operations consume as little time and' involve as little labor as possible, and yet it is just as essential that there be no likelihood oit' accidental disengagement of the hook from the work, as is well understood to those skilled in the art.

It therefore the general objecty of my invention to provide a hook which is of very rhigh efficiency, especially when utilized; in this particular lield, in thatit provides for easy, quick engagement withand disengagement from the work, and yet is positively and Cvurely lockedA against accidental opening such as might otherwise occur due to the sudden relieving of the load or lateral displacement thereof, forinstance.

In contradistinction to the usual autouxatically locking hooks wherein there is a movable member carried by the hoolrbody, engageable by the work and operated by virtue of said engagement to swing the latch to, closed position, I provide for the movement bodily of the bill end ofthe hook with respect to the supporting structure, this bodily movement as caused by the application ot' the load to said bill end operating to swing the latch to closed position. and hold it therein. In order that the latch may be opened, it is necessasry that reverse bodily movement of the hook occur, and such is not possible unless the load be relieved therefrom.

As a further feature, in the preferred form ot' my invention, as soon as the load is relieved, the bill end or hook body automatically moves bodily in a direction to cause latch opening movement, though this provision is not limitative on the invention, as will be made apparent. -I-Iowever, in order positivelyl to insure that the latch may not be swung accidentally to open position in the event that the loadbe intentionally or unintentionally relieved before hook disengagement is desired, I prefer to providev a releasable locking member so associated with the latch that the latter is held positively againstmovement to inoperative position. It then requires manual release of the locking member before the means', for moving the hook body in a manner to `swing the latch open becomes eiective.

In certain situations I prefer to provide means whereby the automatically acting means may be manually` assisted in moving the hook bodilyl in a., manner to vswing the latch open, andin other situations I desire to dispense with the automatic openingfeature entirely. In either ot these events I provide mea-ns tor shifting the body member, the handle or lever by which themeans is operated preferably being disposed in such a manner that vthe grip of. the operators hand when he grasps'the hook handle in a manner to swing it clear ofthe work, naturally actuates said shiftingmeans, thus calling for very little conscious effort. The same is true when the hook is being swung into work applying position, that is, (inthe absence ot the means for normally holding the hook open, as in my preferred form) as the operatoigrasps the hook handle'to swing it toward the work, his naturally tightening grip serves to actuate the mechanism in a manner to open the hook. However, it will be understood my invention is not limited to this precise relationship between the hook handle and the actuating member of the opening mechanism. c

As a still Afurther feature, where it is desired that manual force be used as either sole means for openingftbe hook or to y open condition.

aid the automatically acting means, it is preferable, tlmugh not necessary, that said means be moved to operative position by the handle used to retract the latch-locking member, it. following that initial movement ot Said handle frees the lockingmember and continued movement oli the handle actuates or aids in actuating the hook-opening or latch-retracting mechanism. Thus. as the operator grips the handle ot the hooi; to disengage it trom vvorlr. he naturally includes the actuating handle in his `ejrasp and as he naturali) squeezes them together he tirst unlocks the latch and then retraets the latch to open the hook.

lVhere means is provided for automatically opening the hook after the load is relieved and the latch-loch is released. the same means serves normally to hohl the hook in However. as soon as the load is applied thereto. the latch swings to closed position and the latch-lock moved to locking position, it therefore recpiiring` release oi said lock betere the work eau be removed from the hook, even though the load be soinevvhat relieved betere an attenipt is made to free it from the hook.

I have also provided an improved type of swivel joint. in the hook-supporting structure, whereby the hook free to swivel either before or after the imposition of load.

The hook7 throughout, is o very sturdy, compact, and simple construction, these characteristics being of great in'iportance, especially in vievv ot' the severe service conditions to which hooks ot this character are exposed.

Other objects and 4features of novelty will be made apparent in the following detailed specification, reference being had to the areonipanyingT drawings in which z Fig. l is a side elevation ol: a hook embodying my invention and shown in closed condition;

Fie'. 2 is a vievv ot Fig. l as viewed from the right thereof:

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3MB ot Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a section, With parts shown in elevation, on line Ll-l ot' Fig'. 2. the hook being Shown in closed condition:

Fig. 5 is a vievv similar to Fig. It. butl showing the hooi( in open condition;

Fig. 6 is a section on line GHG ot Fig. l;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section on line 7*-7 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a pt rspective ot the throat-closino latch; and

4ig. 9 is a perspective ot the unitary latchlock and latch-retracting' member.

I have shown a supporting structure 10 which includes a body member 11, pendant pin 12, nut 13 and a swivel joint generally indicated at 14 between body member l1 and pin 12 whereby said pin and parts supported thereby are capable of axial rotation.

Body member ll has lat tally extending:1 trunnions 15 which preferably have annular grooves 16 adapted to taire eye portions 1T of bail 18, the latter providing means by which detachable connection is made to the hoisting tackle.

Body member l1 also has a tubular axial hub 19, said hub having upper and lower bores 1l) and 20. respectively. ol substantially equal dian'ieters and an intermediate bore Q1 ot relatively small diameter: said smaller bore being defined lj annular flange which ],\rovides an upwardly facing; annular shoulder Q3 and a dovvnwzu'dly lacing annular and, pretenablyconical shoulder Q4. In order properly to balance the struetun?. the longitudinal axis A ot pin 1Q. which axis may also be considered as the line ol' draft, is midvvay between trnnnions 15 and intersects the common axis ot said trunnions atI substantially right angles.

interposed between shoulder .23 and pinhead is an anti-friction bearingf QG which provides tor tree rotation of pin l2 and parts supported thereby, Whether or not a longitudinally directed load be applied to said pin or parts.

The pin 12 is threaded at 2T near its lower end to take nut 13. and terminates in a portion 28 u'hieh extends below nut 13 and pret erably of substantially rectangular crossseetion, as shovvn in Fig. 7. Nut 13 has an enlarged head 29 which provides an upward ly facinglr shoulder 30, and is preferably elongated or flattened as shown in lig. T,

Tl e hook body generally indicated at fil is slotted through to provide a latch-receivinf riot compartment 32. the side walls dctinine said slot being indicated at .'ll. The. upper end ot the hody portion ol the hook is provided with a tubular plunger or shank 34v which has sliding ht within hore 2t), the movementl ol said plunger in an upward direction being limited by shoulder ill, and its extent ot movement in a downward direction being determined hy shoulder flo, which the downwardly facinglr shoulder fla ot the hooi: body or .shank is adapted to rn gage when said body is in its loivcrmort poA sition.

Preferably. though not nefesf'farily, the vvidth of slot is such as inst to talv'e nut head Qt). so said nut is hold from rotation vvith respect to the hooll' hody. and since. a:-; will hereinafter he made apparent7 pin lil is also held from rotation with respect to said body when the hook is linally assembled. the nut and pin are held against relative rotation and there is therefore no possibility of accidental longitudinal movement betiveen or relative displaeeinent of said nut and pin.

lu asseinljilinfr the device, the portion lf3 of nut 13 is tir, slipped trom beneath into position within the bor(I flo ot -banl di, said lio merge-5r shank is then thrust upwardly into bore 20, and pin 12 is pushed downwardly through bores 19, 21, 20", 36, and threaded through thenut' (a toolv such as a socket wrench being applied to hea-'d sockets 37, for this purpose) until there is a predetermined distance between shoulders 24 and 30, this distance determining thel stroke or extent of'longitudinafl movement of the shank and hook body. Itis apparent that with head 25 engaging with bearing 26, the distance between shoulders 24 and 30 may be varied by threading nut lalong the pin, or vice-Versa, to vary the length of the stroke of the hook body. A retention plug or cap 38 is preferably threaded into bore 19 above head 25.

In the preferred embodiment of my inventi'on, I inter-pose a compression spring 41 in the bore 36 between upwardly facing shoulder 42 at the end of nut 13 and the downwardly facing shoulder 43 provided acrosssaid bore by the annular flange 44 at the end of the shank. It will be seen that at such times asfpin 12 is free to rotate with respect to nut 13 (ofcourse, the hook is not ful y" assembled at such times) the pin may be rotated to thread the nut up or down therealong and thereby regulate the effective strength of the spring, though the stroke of the' body member is varied at the same time.

As will hereinafterbe made apparent, my invention, considered in its broader aspects,

is not limited to a structure wherein spring f 41 or its equivalent is employed, for the hook is operative either with or without this and allows the descension thereof to bring shoulder into contact with shoulder 30, the load imposed on the hook thereby being transmitted through head 29, pin 12, bearing 26 and flange 22 to the body member 11 of the supporting struct-ure 10. In'other words, spring 41 is not effective to support the load applied to the hook but is merely effective-to yieldably hold said hook in elevated, open position whenfno load is applied to said hook. l

The bill 45 preferably has an elongated tip 46, the' work-taking aperture being indicated at 47 and the throat or way leading to said aperture being indicated at 48. v

Hook handle'A or `rrip 49 is preferably i11- tegral with the bot y portieri of the hook, said handle being in the form of a bar of channel cross section joined at top and bottom to the body member. The forward edges 50 of the channel flanges and the opc posed edges 51 of body member' walls 33 deiine a handhole 52, it being noted that, in effect, slot 32 and the narrower channel 53 of the hand grip 49 open to hole 52 centrally ancl to one another at their ends,fas elearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5:

Adapted to swing pivotally-through slot 32 from the projected or hook-closing. position of Fig. 4 to the retracted or` open position of Fig. 5, is a latch member generally designated at 54, the member being adapted to close throat 48 when it is in projected position. As will benoted, member 54 is an arm of substantially L-shape (Fig. 4) the arcuate, throat closing portion 55 extending angularly from the straight arm portion 56, said portions 55 and 56 being connected by the spaced, .strengthening flanges 0r `webs 57 which are substantially of triangular shape.

There is' thus defined a recess 58 which opens towards slot 32. l

At the upper end of arm' portion56 are theV spaced angi'ilfarly extending ears or arms 59 into which ilanges 57 merge, said ear's being spaced to' take terminal 28 of pin 12 between them. A transversely extending pivotpinv 60 extends through' ear apertures 61 and a horizontally elongated1I aperture 62 in terminal 28, said pivot pin preferably having tight nt in the ears and being thrust to place during assembly of the hook through over-size apertures 6'3 in side walls 33.

Member 54 is thus mounted' for pivotal movement about pin 60, arm portion. 55 preferably being struckl about said pin as a center', as is also wall 64 of slot 321 The latch, when vin the extended or projected position of Fig. 4, is so located that arm portionl 55'edectively closes throat 48, and when swung in a counterclo'ckwi'se direction from the position of Fig. 4 to that of Fig. 5, it lies within slot 32, arm port-ion then being cleared from the throat,

Ears 59 extend beyond apertures 61 and are apertured at 65 to taire a pivot pin 66 Vwhich vextends between and is terminally held at 67 in the side walls 33 othook body 3l. Vliile pivot pin 60 lies substantially in Vthe line ot draft of axis ci, pin (i6 is offset sary horizontal component oi' movement ot ears 59 during pivotal movement of ears 59 or member 54. Of course, the requisite lost motion may be suppliedV at any other suitable point without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Integral'with and at an angl-e to" ears 59 are caml lugs or noses 68. lVhile these noses are not essential to the invention in `certain of its embodiments, they are requisite in. other embodiments, but I will vdelay discussion of their function until a later point in the specification.

lt will he seen thatl hy virtue ot the pivotal connection ot member 5l with the stationary supporting structure and the morahle hook hotly and the vertical disalinement of one ot the pirot connectfons with respect to the other. relative longitudinal movement' between hool; inemher and supportingl structure serres to swing the latch men'iher ahout pin (ttl to and from closing; position. yl`hus. downward vertical moreinent ot the hook inemher serves to swingr the latch towards its closingT or projected position and upward vertical movement of said hoolt memher serves to retract the latch or swing it out of throat 4S into slot 32. lt thus follows. assuming the hook he open. as in Fie; and that a load he applied to hill fl-5. that said load over-powers spriner -l-l. and the consequent downward movement' ot the hooh body serres to swine; the latch into the, closed position ot Fie'. l and as lone; as the load is applied to resist suhstouent opening' movementI thereof.

However, it is desirahle that positive loci:- ing means he provided for holding the latch against accidental retraction. especiallgv in the event the load is suddenly relieved at a time when diseiuae'enient ot the hook troni the work is not desired. For this purpose have provided a lockingT arm (if) pivotallv mounted on pin TO and extendingr from slot 32 into the channel ot handle 49. At one end, arm 69 carries spaced ears 71 wherchy pivotal connection is made to pin TO, and at the other end carries a lockingT nose or dof;4 T2 which is ot a thickness to he taken within recess 58: the latch and arm Gf) heiner adapted to swing pivotallv into and out of telescopio relation with one :mother as shown in Figs. 4 and Normally tending to rotate arm (itl in a connttn'-cloekwise direction. as viewed in Fil. 4. and hence into lockingr position ahead of arm is a spring' 7., which extends hetween ears 7l. said springr hearingY at', one end Tal ae'ainst the weh itil ot handle 49. and heineT entered at its other end in a slot 75 in arm 69.

As a means tor swinging arm (i9 against the action ot springr 73 and henee retracting loeltine nose T2 troni its` position in trout of locltiiu.r arm 55. l provide a handle or 4grip Tti haringA spared flanges 'T7 adapted to receive hein-een them the springl T3 and heine adapted to engage weh 49" to limit the clorhwise or retraetire movement of arm (if). Grip 76 is accessible through hand-hole and is movahle towards weh fifi against the action ot spring 73. A hand-aard tlane 78 extends l'rom handle 7G hut in spaced relation thereto, and. with said handle defines hand-hole ffl which .is aecessihle through hand-hole 52. This 4guard flange is adapted to engage the defining walls 8O ot handhold 52, (Fig. to limit the countercloekwise or spring-urged movement ol" arm (it).

Under certain eonditioi'is, it is desirable that the hook hody he moved upwardly to open it either solely hy manually operated means or, where such upward movement is automaticall)v :un'oniplished upon relief of the load and unlocking! ol the latch, that the automatically acting means he aided hy manually operated means. it. heilig; under- .stood that in either case the manually operated means is preferahh1 held iiioperative rntil the latch-locking' nose 72, or its equivalent. has heen retracted or cleared from the path ol' latch 54.

Yfhile this is not essential lo the invention. considered in its hroader aspects, it is oi1\enient that the manuallyv operated means for raising; the hool; and hence swingine thtI latch to retracted position he actuated h v the uicmher which is employed 'for retrartiue' the latch loel-r. il: then heine' possihle hr a continuons movement ot said unitar;v aeiuatine' inemher. first, to unlock the latch. and then to shift the hook in a latchopening' direction. To this end I have provided a weh 8lv hetween flange 78 and arm ('l). and projecting from opposite sides ot this weh are the actuatingr or cam lugs 82. livel) Si is adapted to extend hetween noses (i8. while. lugs S2 project hevond said weh suliieientlv,v to he in line with said noses. llfowerer, with thelatch in projected orloekin;r position (Fil. fl) lugs 82 are appreeiahl)v spaced troni noses (38 so handle 7G may he actuated to retract or clear nose 72 from the path of arm 54 hetero lugs 82 engage noses (itl. Continued moif'enient oi handle 7G atter lugs 522 engage noses GS acts to swine' latch 5l to a retracted position, thus raising the hook hotly. or this movement may he considered as raisin;y the hook hody and thereinY swinfriner the latch to retracted position. ln the ahsence ot spring: fil handle t ma;7 thus he depended upon soleliv lor lifting: and opening* the hook, and, where thc. spring is used. it may he actuated to aid said spring in its hoolf lifting' and ope-nin;r action.

lt will he noted that handle 7G is naturali)` and easily swungr in a clockwise direction to unlocl: the latch and. under certain conditions. to open the hoolt hv the natural action of the operator as he takes rrips -lfl and 76 in his grasp to swine; thi` hook towards or away from work lV. :trips Tt and llt) being, in etl'eet. squeezed together naturally as the operato:` takes firm hold. lt. will also he noted that handle flanges 77 close those portions oit openings 52 which extend hetween theI handle l'fl and the torward edges of the channel flanges ot handle or grip 4-9 when arm G9 is in lorient.r position. so there is no danger ot an operatoi"s hand or extraneous ohjef'ts heiner thrust into such openings.

IUD

llO

In describing the operation of the hook, it will lirst be assumed that spring 41 is in use and is approxi-mately ot' such strength thatrit just holds the hook body in the elevated position of Fig. 5, this position being considered vnormal when the spring is used, it being seen that latch 54 is held retracted and throat 48 therefore `tully opened so the hook may be readily applied to work. At this time, spring 7 3 holds arm G9 and the elements carried thereby in the dot-ted line position of Fig. 5, the forward end 83 of nose 72 engaging the inner tace 84 of arm portion 55, and lugs ,82 4being spaced trom cam noses 68. K

When the hook is now applied kto the work and the work-load is imposedupon bill 45, the hook body moves downwardly with respect to supporting structure 10 against the action of spring 41 and until shoulder 35 engages shoulder 30, the swivel connection 14 in the supporting structure allowing continued axialrotation of the hook in spite of the imposition of load. As the hook ybody descends, pin 66 is lowered, ofcourse, with respect to pin 60 and latch 54 is thus swung pivotally to the closed position of Fig. 4, `the lost motion connection provided by slot 62 compensating for the variable distance between the two pivot pins. As lsoonas the latch has .moved to fully projected position,

which is determined by the contact of shoulder 35 with shoulder 30, nose `72, beneath which arm portion 55 has been dragged as the latch moved to projected position, is swung by spring 73 into locking position, that is, into opposition'with the end shoulder 85 of arm portion 55.

The latch is thus locked in projected position so that even though the load be relievedl from the hook, spring 41 remains incompetent to lift the hook and thereby retract the latch. Of course, as long as the loadvis applied to the hook, the load acts to hold said hook down andthereby to hold the latch projected.

As soon as the load is relieved and hook disengagement is desired, handle 76 is actuated in a manner first to clear nose 72 from shoulder 85, whereupon spring 41-.becomes elfective to raise the hook vbody and thereby shift pin. 66 in a manner to swing latch 54 into retracted position, opening the hook throat. Ot course, the spring 41 `may be aided by continued actuation of handle 76, such actuation bringing lugs 82 into operative engagement with noses 68 after nose 72 has `cleared the latch, the force exerted by the lugs against the no-ses 68 serving to open the latch or raise the hook, as described above.` i

With the throat 48 open, the hook is again in normal condition and may be free from the workbeing thereafter held open and ready to receive new work without further effort on the part ofthe operator. j y

It will thus be seen that the hoolrbody .is movableV Vto cause an automatic latching thereof upon application ot' work thereto, and also movable automatically in a manner positively kto move the latch ,to retracted position.

In some situations it may be desirable to eliminate spring 41.` lVhen such is the case, the normal condition ci the hoch will be that shown in Fig. 4, since the hook will Vbeheld by gravity with shoulder 35 in yengagement with shoulder 30, and consequently latch `54 will normally be locked closed, as in y,that figure. 4

-When it is then desired to apply theliook to work, the operatoractuates handle .76 in a manner first to clear nose 72 from ,latch 54 and then to operatively engage lugs 82 with noses 68, in the manner abovedescribed, to move the khook kbodily and thus open the latch. /Vhen the latch is fully opened, the l parts will be in the condition of Fig. 5, lugs 82 being still in engagement with noses 68.

The hook is then 'engaged with the work, and Vhandle 7 6 is released. It the hook `be capable of dropping after its application and4 beforeV the actual imposition ol load thereon, gravity will move said hook to the position ot' Fig. 4, the latch thus closing automatical.-

ly and being automatically llocked in closed position. Then, when the load is'applieddo thehool, latch-opening movement is resisted by virtue of said load. 0r, it .the hook be not capable oi' gravitating until the load is applied thereto, the `subsequent application of said load moves the .hook downwardly with the effect outlined above. v l. i

It will be noted that spring 41vis not ,designed to support the work load, for `were iit so to d o, descensionof the hook body would bechecled bei'ore the latch were .fully closed, and `there might the-n be the .possibility that either the work could tree itself yfrom the hook by-passagethrough the partially closed throat or that the latch movement would not` be sutticient to allow the projection of nose k.72 into locking position. j

It will be understood the drawings and description are to be considered merely Aas illustrative of and not `restrictive on ,the

in one direction with respect to the supporting structure moves said latch towards its hook-closing position.

2. In a hook, a supporting structure, a hook body movable with respect to the supporting structure, a latch movable with respect to the supporting structure to and from hook-closing position, and connections between said latch, supporting structure and hook body whereby movement of said body in one direction with respect to the supporting structure retraets said latch from its hook-closing position.

3. In a hook, a supporting structure, a hook body movable with respect to the supporting structure, and a latch movable with respect to the movable structure to hookclosing position by virtue of such movement of the hook body.

Il. In a hook, a supporting structure, a hook body movable with respect to the supporting structure, and a latch movable with respect to the supporting structure and adapted to close the hook, said latch being movable from hook-closing position by virtue of such movement et the hook body.

5. In a hook, a supporting structure, a hook body movable with respect to the supporting structure, and a latch movable with respect to the movable structure to and i'rom hooliclosing position by virtue ot movement in opposite directions ot the hook body with respect to the supporting structure.

6. In a hook, a supporting structure, a hook body movable with respect to the supporting structure, a latch movable with respect to the movable structure to and from hook-closing position, and connections between said. latch, supporting structure and hook body whereby movement ot said body in one direction with respect to the supporting structure moves said latch towards its hook-closing iosition, and whereby movement of said body in the opposite direction with respect to the supporting structure retracts said latch from its hook-closing position.

7. In a hook, a supporting structure, a hook body movable with respect to the supporting structure, a latch movable with respect to the supporting structure to hookclosing position by virtue of such movement of the hook body, and yieldable means resisting hook-closing movement ot the latch.

8. In a hook, a supporting structure, a hook body movable with respect to the snpportingr structure, a latch movable with respect to the supporting,T structure to and from hook-closing position. connections between said latch, supporting structure and hook body whereby movement of said body in one direction with respect to the supporting structure moves said latch towards its hook-closing position, and means yieldably resisting movement of thc body in said one direction and thereby yieldably holdingA the latch from movement towards its hook-closing,l position.

5). In a hook, a supporting:r structure, a hook body movable with respect to the snpporting member by virtue ol load imposition thereon, a latch movable with respect to the supporting structure and adapted to be moved to hook-closing position by virtue ot such movement of the hook body, and means adapted to act automatically to move the latch from liooli-closinfor position when the load is relieved therefrom.

1t). In a hook, a supporting structure, a hook body movable with respect to the supporting structure by virtue of load imposition thereon, a latch movable with respect to the supporting structure and adapted to be moved to hook-closing position by virtue of such movement ot' the hook body, releasable means ior locking the latch in hookclosing position, and means adapted to act automatically to move the latch from hooliclosingr position when the load is relieved therefrom and after said locking;r means is released.

ll. In a hook, a supporting structure, a hook body movable with respect to said structure approximately in the direction ot the line of draft, and a hook-closing latch pivotally connected at one point to the .-upporting structure and pivotally connected at another point to the hook body, said iirst mentioned point beiner substantially in the line ot d 'att and the second mentioned point being:r oll'lset with respect to said line during movement ol the hook body.

1P.. In a hook, a' supporting structure, a hoot: body movable vertically with respect to said structure, and a hook-closing latch pivotally connected at one point to the sapporting structure and pivotally connected at another point to the body men'iber, said second mentioned point being out oi' vertical alinement with said iirst mentioned point during movement of the hook body.

13. In a hook, a supportingr structure embodying a pendant pin, a hook body having,r a tubular shank taking;r said pin in its bore and movable with the body member longitudinally with respect to said pin, means Afor limiting the extent of such longitudinal movement, and a hook-closing latch pivotally connected at one point to .said pin and at another point to said body whereby lon- Pfritudinal movement oi' the body member imparts pivotal movement to the latch.

i4. In a hook, a supporting structure cmbodyinnj a pendant pin, a hook body having a tubular shank taking` said pin in its bore and movable with the body member longitudinally with respect to said pin, a nut threaded on said pin beneath the shank and lil adapted to limit the extent of such longitudinal movement in one direction, and a hookclosing latch pivoted to said pin at a point below the nut and pivoted to said body member at a point out of vertical alinement with said first mentioned point.

15. In a hook, a supporting structure embodying a pendant pin, a hook body having a tubular shank taking said pin in its bore and movable with the bodyimember longitudinally with respect to said pin, a nut threaded on said pin beneath the shank and adapted to limit the extent of such longitudinal movement in one direction, a hook-closing z latch pivoted to said pin at a point below the nut and pivoted to said body member at a point out of vertical alincment with said first mentioned point, and a spring about said pin and extending between said nut and an 'opposed shoulder on the shank, said spring being adapted yieldingly to resist longitudinal movement of said body in said one direction.

16. `In a hook, a supporting structure, a hook body movable with respect to the suportinfr member b virtue ot load im Josition thereon, a latch adapted to be moved to hooliclosing position by virtue of such movement of the hook body, means adapted to act automatically to move the latch from hooliclosing position when the load is relieved therefrom, and manuallyv operated means adapted to assist the automatically,operating means in moving the said latch from hooliclosing` position.

17. In a hook, a supporting structure embodying a pendant pin, a hook body having a tubular shank taking said pin in its bore and movable with the body member longitudinally with respect to said pin, means for limiting the extent of such longitudinal movement, a hook-closing latch pivotally connected at one point to said pin and at another part to said body whereby longitudinal movement of the body member imparts pivotal movement to the latch, and a movable locking member on the body and adapted to engage the latch in a. manner to prevent its pivotal movement in one direction and thereby to prevent longitudinal movement of the body in one direction.

18. In a hook, a supporting structure, and a hook body supported by said structure, said body being movable both about and alongr a vertical axis, and a latch movable to hook-closing position by virtueof movement of the hook body along said axis.

19. In a hook, a supporting structure, and a hook body supported by said structure, said body being movable both about and along a vertical axis, and amovable latch adapted to close the hook, said latch being movable from hook-closing position by virtue of movement of the hook body along said f axis. l Y

20. In a hook, a supporting structure, and a hook body supported by said structure, said body being movable both about and along a vertical axis, and a latch movable to and from hook-closing position by virtue of movement of the hook body in opposite directions along said axis.

2l. In a hook, a supportingr structure, a hook body movable with respect to said structure approximately in the direction of the line of drait, a hook-closing latch mounted on the supporting structure and movable thereon transversely of the line of draft to and from hook-closing position, and interconnecting means between the hook body and latch whereby movement of the hook body under draft moves the latchtransversely to hook-closing position and movement of the hook body in the opposite direction moves the latch transversely away from hook-closing position. i

22. In ahook, a supporting structure, a hook body movable with. respect to said structure approximately in the direction of the line of draft, a hook-closing latch mounted on .the supporting structure and movable thereon transversely of the line of draft to and from hook-closing position, interconnecting means between the hook body yand latch whereby movement of the hook body under draft moves the latch transversely to hook-closing position and movement of the hook body in tlie opposite direction moves the latch transversely Vaway from hookclosing position, and a spring acting yieldably to hold the hook body against movement under draft.

In a hooln'a supporting structure, a hook body movable with respect to said structure approximately in the direction of the line of draft, a hook-closing latch mounted on the supporting structure and movable thereon transversely of the line of draft to and from hook-closing position, interconnecting means betweenthe hook body and latch whereby movement of the hook body under draft moves the latch transversely to hook-closing position and movement of the filo hook body in the opposite direction moves the latch transversely away from hookclosing position, and a movable locking memberon the body and adapted to engage the latch releasably 'in a manner to prevent transverse movement of the latch 1n one direction and therebyto prevent movementV of thehoolr body in one direction.V

VIn witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 24th day of September, 1926.

EDWARD n. sTEvENsoN.

HMM

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECION.

Patent No. 1,667,957. Granted May 1, 1928, to

EDWARD E. STEVENSON.

It is hereby certified that error appears in tire printed sneeification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as foows: Page 6, lines 17, 30, and 37, claims 3, 5, and 6, for the word "movabe" read "supporting"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 19th day of June, A. D. 1928,

M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Gemmissioner of Patents. 

